Chinese New Year

Origins of the Chinese Zodiac The Buddha often forgot his age so to make it easier to calculate his age, he decided to select 12 animals to represent each year. He invited all the animals of the world to gather at a certain place, some say a banquet, at a certain time. The first 12 to arrive were to be rewarded with a year named after each one.

Chinese Zodiac The 12 animals were linked to the year of a person’s birth. When a Chinese baby is born, his or her animal sign is said to reveal his or her character. A person's Chinese Zodiac sign is also used to figure out one’s fortune. Marriage partners' compatibility is also determined by their animal signs.

Samples 02/19/1996 – 02/06/1997Rat 02/07/1997 – 01/27/1998Ox 01/28/1998 – 02/15/1999Tiger 02/16/1999 – 02/04/2000Rabbit 02/05/2000 – 01/23/2001Dragon 01/24/2001 – 02/11/2002Snake

Determining the New Year Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival. The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-year cycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year.

Celebration Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family. The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community.

Day by day The first day of the Lunar New Year is "the welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth.“ Many people abstain from meat on the first day of the new year because it is believed that this will ensure long and happy lives for them. On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. The third and fourth days are for the sons-in-laws to pay respect to their parents-in-law. The fifth day is called Po Woo. On that day people stay home to welcome the God of Wealth. No one visits families and friends on the fifth day because it will bring both parties bad luck. On the sixth to the 10th day, the Chinese visit their relatives and friends freely. They also visit the temples to pray for good fortune and health. The seventh day of the New Year is the day for farmers to display their produce. These farmers make a drink from seven types of vegetables to celebrate the occasion. The seventh day is also considered the birthday of human beings. Noodles are eaten to promote longevity and raw fish for success. On the eighth day the Fujian people have another family reunion dinner, and at midnight they pray to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven. The ninth day is to make offerings to the Jade Emperor. The 10th through the 12th are days that friends and relatives should be invited for dinner. After so much rich food, on the 13th day you should have simple rice congee and mustard greens (choi sum) to cleanse the system. The 14th day should be for preparations to celebrate the Lantern Festival which is to be held on the 15th night.

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